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Eliciting and storing operative information from expert surgeons using surgical scripts: a content analysis study.
M H Edwards1, J Coughlan, S Morar
1Department of Surgery, Woodlands Hospital, Morton Park Way, Darlington, Co Durham, UK. michaeledwardsok@aol.com
International Journal of Surgery (London, England)
|April 3, 2007
Summary
Surgical scripts effectively capture expert operative details from multiple surgeons, enhancing training. This method collects more comprehensive surgical technique information than traditional textbooks.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Education
- Medical Informatics
Background:
- Surgical trainees traditionally learn operative techniques at the operating table.
- Decreased operating exposure limits trainees' learning opportunities from diverse surgeons.
- Surgical scripts offer a method to capture expert operative information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate surgical scripts as a tool for eliciting combined operative information from multiple surgical experts.
- To assess the effectiveness of surgical scripts in capturing detailed surgical techniques.
Main Methods:
- A specific operative step (right ureter tracing in right hemicolectomy) was selected from a surgical script.
- Surgeons reviewed the script step and added their unique insights, tips, and techniques.
- Content analysis was performed on the elicited comments.
Main Results:
- The original script step contained 15 points of information, exceeding detailed textbook content.
- Nineteen surgeons contributed 50 additional comments, enriching the script with details, alternatives, and opinions.
- Some surgeon-contributed comments were integrated into a revised script.
Conclusions:
- Surgical scripts are effective for eliciting and storing detailed operative information from groups of surgeons.
- The developed scripts can be made available online.
- Online surgical scripts can optimize surgical trainees' operating time and learning.
